1914 Accession of Prince William of Wied Medal

Layaway Policy

eMedals is pleased to offer flexible layaway services to all clients. Our layaway program offers the opportunity for clients to make payments on eligible items over period of time.

Minimum deposit of 30%, of the total price of your order including all applicable taxes and shipping charges, is due when the merchandise is put on layaway. The total price of your order must be paid within 6 months from the date of original purchase.

You may make additional payments at any time by accessing the Layaway section in your account.

Your contract will be automatically cancelled and ordered merchandise will be returned to stock if you have not completed payments in full by the 3 month deadline.

1914 Accession of Prince William of Wied Medal - Bronze, 28.3 mm x 37.7 mm, light contact, extremely fine. Footnote: This medal was the first Royal Albanian decoration. With the decline of Ottoman Turkish power, an independent Albania was created after the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913. William, Prince of Wied (1876-1945), a well-connected German army officer, was selected by the great powers of Europe, with consent of the Albanians, to be "mpret" (ruler) of Albania and ascended the throne on February 21, 1914. William was born on March 26, 1876, the third son of William, Prince of Wied and his wife Marie of the Netherlands. He was nephew of Queen Elizabeth of Romania. Civil war soon made his position untenable and the coming of World War I broke down all foreign aid. A rebellion under Essad Pasha was successful, and lacking support among the large powers, William was forced to retire on September 3, 1914, although he refused to abdicate. He died on April 18, 1945 at Predeal near Sinaia in Romania. The medal was designed by Gustave Gurschner (1873-1971), an active sculptor and designer based in Vienna, who designed many medals for Balkan and other countries.

An Albania Medal for Bravery by IKOM of Zagreb - Type 1, Variant 2 Gold-coloured wash on bronze, 31.7 mm, original ribbon, mounted to a five-sided brass suspension with pinback, surface wear and light contact, very fine.
Footnote: The Order and Medal for Bravery were instituted on July 9, 1945, the medal to be awarded to officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the People’s Army and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for bravery in the face of the enemies of Albania in military operations or in defence of its borders or against spies, saboteurs and other enemies of the state. The medal was initially produced by GOZNAK in the Soviet Union and later by IKOM of Zagreb. All Albanian Communist-era medals are proving to be extremely hard to find.